Bubble cap assembly



E. D. RAPISARDA ET BUBBLE CAP ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 12, 1949 INVENTORSEar/mp0. RA PISA RDA AND HARRY}? 721?? F ATTO NEYS periphery of thelatter.

Patented Dec. 13, 1949 BUBBLE CAP ASSEMBLY Edward D. Bapisarda, Agawam,and Harry F. Tapp, Longmeadow, Mass., assignors to Gilbert 8: Barker setManufacturing Company, Sprngfleld, Mass, a corporation of Massachu- WestApplication February 12, 1949, Serial No. 76,132

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bubble cap assemblies, such asare used in fractionating towers and the like for the purpose ofintimately contacting a' gas with a liquid.

The invention has for an object the provision of an improved bubble capassembly which is adapted for quantity production manufacture at lowunit cost and which enables the chimney and cap to be readily mounted onthe floor of a tray of the bubble tower and secured thereto by the holddown bolt, working from a position above the tray or deck, and whichenables easy removal of the cap and chimney, leaving the tray or deckfree of protuberances or other obstructions to facilitate cleaning ofthe deck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bubble cap assembly ofimproved construction to enable the chimney to be mounted in, ordemounted from, a gas escape op nin in the floor plate of the bubbletray and, when mounted therein. to be clamped in leak-proof fashion tothe floor plate, the construction being characterized in that the floorplate, which may be of thin metal, is clamped between a shoulder on theouter peripheral wall of the chimney and an anchor ring fixed to thebottom of the plate, the shoulder extending completely around theperiphery of the chimney and the ring having a similar peripheral shapeand extent, whereby clamping pressure may be applied to press the plateagainst the shoulder at all points in the Another object of theinvention is to provide an anchor ring for the purpose described ofnovel construction enabling economical manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will best be understood fromthe following detailed description of the illustrative examples of theinvention in the accompanyin drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bubble cap assembly embodying theinvention;

' Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line l-lofFig. 3.

Referring to these drawings; 1 represents a portion of the floor or deckof-a bubble tray, which, as is well known, is adapted to be mounted in abubble tower. A plurality of these trays are mounted in the tower atdifferent levels, in

the general manner disclosed in Patent No.

non-corrosive metal, such as stainless steel for example, and, sincethis metal is relatively expensive, the floor plate is made as thin asfeasible. In each bubble tray are mounted many of the bubble capassemblies, which form the subject matter of this invention. All partsof each bubble cap assembly are preferably made of noncorrosive metal,such as stainless steel for example. A single one of these assemblieswill be described herein. I

Each bubble cap assembly includes a chimney 2 (Fig. 2) rising from thefloor plate I of the bubble tray and conducting through it the gas orvapor, which rises from below the plate. Seated on top of the chimney invertically spaced relation is a bubble cap 3, which deflects the risinggas or vapor, forcing it downwardly and causing it to pass throughliquid, which is maintained on the tray as disclosed in said patent to alevel indicated by the dot-dash line 4. The chimney 2 may be of anysuitable cross sectional shape, although it is herein shown (Fig. 3) ascylindrical. This chimney (Fi 2) has a shoulder 5 thereon which extendsentirely around its external periphery, is spaced from its lower end,and is located in a plane at right angles to the vertical axis of thechimney. The lower end oi chimney 2 is seated in an opening 6 of like1,167,136, to Alexander, granted April 24, 1928. It is desirable thatthe floor plate I be made of the cap 3 and an anchorring which underliesthe cross sectional shape in the floor plate I with the shoulder 5abutting the upper surface of the plate. The shoulder 5 may beconveniently formed by rolling a bead l in the chimney.

The cap 3 has generally the shape of an inverted bowl. It is supportedfrom the top oi chimney 2, and spaced from the upper end thereof, bymeans of a plurality (three as shown) of horizontal vanes 8 (see alsoFig. l) which are fixed to the top wall of the cap and located insidethe same. These vanes extend from a position near the center of the capradially outward in diverging relation to and beyond the chimney 2,having notched outer ends (Fig. 2), providing on each a horizontal seat9 to rest on top of the chimney and a vertical shoulder ill to lieinside the same. These shoulders serve to locate the cap 3 approximatelycoaxially of chimney 2. Each vane is fixed in any suitable way to thecap. As shown, each vane 8 may have two projections H, which extendupwardly through slots in the top of the cap and are held thereto bystaking," as indicated.

The bubble cap 3 and chimney '2 are held together and to the floor plateI of the bubble tray by means of a bolt and nut connection between floorplate. The anchor ring is designated [2. It has the same cross sectionalshape as the chimney 2 (Fig. 3), in this case circular, and-its upperend affords an annular seat which is located in a plane at right anglesto the vertical axis of the ring and which abuts the lower face of thefloor plate I at all positions around its periphery. This ring may beheld to the floor plate in any suitable way. For example, thI ring (Fig.2) may have projections, such as I3, which extend through slots in theplate I and are staked, as indicated in Fig. l, to hold the ring againstthe under side of the plate. The anchor ringhasacrossbar Il(Figs.3and4),carryinga nut I5 (Figs. 2 and 4) to receive a bolt I8,which is passed through a central hole in cap 3 (Fig. 2) and extendsdownwardly through the chimney with its lower end threaded into the nut.The head of the bolt I6 engages the top of cap 3 and is operativelyengaged with the chimney through vanes I to draw the chimney and anchorring together. When the bolt It is tightened the cap 3 and chimney 2 aredrawn together and the chimney is drawn downwardly until the floor plateI is tightly clamped against the shoulder 5 and the anchor ring I2. Anannular area of the floor plate is thereby clamped against the shoulder5 to provide a leaktight joint. The engaged portions of plate I andshoulder i are parallel and are drawn into close contact. The clampingarea extends completely around the periphery of the engaged parts,preventing bending of the thin floor plate, such as might occurintermediate the clamped points. if as has heretofore been commonpractice, a spider with angularly-spaced radiating arms is used in placeof the continuous anchor ring.

The anchor ring has been shown as made in two halves or D-shapedsections (Fig. 3) each having a semi-cylindrical part I! and adiametrical part II, the ends of which are welded together. The twoparts I! together form the cross bar described. This cross bar isrecessed as at I! (Fig. 4) to clear the lower end of chimney 2. The nutI! may have a forked lower end 20 (Figs. 1 and 4) which straddles thecross bar It and is held thereto by a pin 2|. This pin, in turn, is heldin place by a cotter pin 22. This pin and fork connection (Fig. 4)enables a limited pivotal movement of the nut relatively to the crossbar, which may be desirable in aligning the bolt and nut. Forconvenience in assembly, the bolt Ii preferably has a pointed lower endand the entrance end of nut I5 is countersunk as shown in Fig. 4. Theanchor ring I 2 may have a series of angularly-spaced holes 23 thereinto enable greater freedom of flow into the lower end of chimney 2.

With this invention the chimney of the bubble cap assembly isdemountable from the door plate I. when required, and it is also firmlyclamped in leaktight fashion to this floor plate, which usually is ofthin metal, such as stainless steel, or other suitable non-corrosivemetal. The floor plate is held between a shoulder on the chimney and ananchor ring with a clamping area which extends completely around theperiphery of the engaged parts, avoiding bending of the thin metal awayfrom the shoulder of the chimney, which would occur if for example aspider with 4 radiating arms were used in place of the continuous ring.This result is secured with a simple structure which is capable ofeconomical manufacture. The anchor ring can be formed economically fromtwo metal stampings and a standard nut which is welded in place in oneof the stampings. The stamped out parts can be easily and quicklyassembled without the aid of tools and the assembly mounted on andsecured to the floor plate in the simple manner described.

We claim:

l. A bubble cap assembly for covering an opening in the floor plate of abubble tower tray and comprising in combination, a door plate providedwith an opening, a cylindrical chimney having its lower end engaged insaid opening and rising from said floor plate, said chimney having ashoulder extending completely around its outer periphery in a plane atright angles to the vertical axis of the chimney, an anchor ringsubstantially the same in cross sectional shape as the chimney andmounted on the underside of said plate and encircling said opening inclosely adjacent relation, a cross bar fixed to the anchor ring andextending across the same, a nut upstanding from the cross bar, a bubblecap mounted on top of the chimney, and a bolt having its head engagedwith the top 0! the cap and extending through the latter and the chimneywith its lower end threaded into said nut, the latter being connected tothe cross bar for limited pivotal movement to facilitate alinement ofthe bolt and nut.

2. A bubble cap assembly for covering an opening in the floor plate of abubble tower tray and comprising in combination, a floor plate providedwith an opening, a chimney having its lower end engaged in said openingand rising from said floor plate, said chimney having a shoulderextending completely around its outer periphery in a plane at rightangles to the vertical axis of the chimney, an anchor ring composed oftwo 0- shaped sections fastened together with their iiat sides inabutment and forming an annular ring with a diametrical cross barcomposed of said fiat sides, said annular ring being fixed to the underside of said plate coaxially of said opening and tube and encircling thelatter in closely adjacent relation, a bubble cap mounted on top of thechimney, a nut carried by the anchor ring centrally thereof, and a bolthaving its head engaged with the top of said cap and extending throughthe latter and the chimney with its lower end threaded into said nut,whereby to draw the cap against the chimney and clamp the plate betweensaid shoulder and ring.

EDWARD 0. Muslims. HARRY r. rm.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Glitsch Feb. 15. 1949

